Abstract
Previously it has been shown that c-kit receptor (c-kitR) and its ligand, stem cell factor (SCF), are expressed in the central nervous system. We have reported that SCF in cultures regulates mouse microglial function. Here we demonstrate that SCF/c-kitR signaling also takes place in situ. We used a penetrating stab wound injury as a model and analyzed the SCF and c-kitR expression in neural cells by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. We found that microglia activated by injury up-regulated c-kitR expression, whereas some astrocytes in the vicinity of the wound expressed SCF mRNA in addition to neurons. This observation suggests that SCF/c-kitR signaling between neurons, astrocytes and microglia also occurs in situ.
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Received: 21 July 1998 / Revised, accepted: 20 October 1998
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Zhang, SC., Fedoroff, S. Expression of stem cell factor and c-kit receptor in neural cells after brain injury. Acta Neuropathol 97, 393–398 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004010051003
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004010051003